A DAY AT THE OMSI

Armed with a season pass to the OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), I joined the Weathersbys for a full day of educational enjoyment.  This is a place where the kids don't require adults to entertain them and in fact, if the adults were to disappear, the kids would likely not even notice.

The OMSI provides hour after hour of interactive displays.  We arrived there when they opened at 9:30 am and stayed until everyone was worn out, about 2:30 pm.

Then we returned to the Weathersby home, spent an hour of either down time or napping, ate at Arctic Circle, where wealthy people eat, and finally returned to the house where we ate ice cream and watched the movie, Annie.

Bethany, Devon, Silas and Naomi lead the pack from the parking lot to the OMSI.

Tyler tries to catch up.

Since we arrived about five minutes before the doors opened, Tim and Tyler killed some time while waiting in line.

Devon took me to a display that showed us on a screen, with the image based on temperature.  The refrigerated block appears dark, first when Devon touched it to my head, and then when he touched it to his own head.

Naomi and Devon operate cranes that lift and move plastic balls using suction.

Bethany and Tyler transport and launch rubber balls using air flow.

Naomi takes a picture of the previous two generations.

Tyler and I take the escalator to the next level.

Around noon, we took a break, stepped outside, and ate lunch by the river.  
Devon eats his sandwich while perched upon a rail.

Naomi dines with her back against the brick OMSI building.

The 10-second video below shows what happens when Tim creates static electricity by cranking a handle while Silas touches an attached metal ball with one hand and holds some small aluminum pans in the other. (Click play tab).

That pretty much wrapped up the bulk of our day.

FIGHTING HUNGER WITH PIZZA

After unveiling the surprise, but before renting and watching Big Hero 6, we all needed to replenish our energy supplies.  

The source of fuel was found at Abby's Pizza in Woodburn.

The carnivores consisted of (from left to right): Silas, Tim, Devon, Bethany, Naomi, Tyler and me.

Fighting hunger.

Fighting thirst.

Observing the pizza-making process.

Fighting hunger.

Fighting thirst.

Fighting hunger, using the stuffed-cheek technique.

A SURPRISE FOR THE WEATHERSBYS

When Debra and I visited the Weathersbys last Christmas, we noticed that a new TV and DVD player might possibly be a good addition to their home.

So, about a month ago, I conspired with Tim, got his permission to get both, and asked him to measure the height and width of the cabinet they use for their TV.  It was to be secret and a surprise.  Only Tim knew about it.  Bethany and the kids did not.

After I arrived this afternoon, Tim and I set it up while the rest of the family camped out for about ten minutes in another room.

Then they all came out to the living room, the surprise was unveiled, and the new addition to their home was a big hit!

The old.

The unveiling of the new (click play tab below).

The new.

TWO TUESDAYS A MONTH

Today is St. Patrick’s Day.  Tonight, I was asked to teach of group of sixteen 5-to-11-year-olds about St. Patrick.

The boy in the red shirt answered a question correctly about St. Patrick and was rewarded with a prize:
A miniature St. Patrick's Day hat.

Actually, I’ve been involved with this group for eleven months now.  We meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.  The group is called “HATS Club” and is sponsored by Youth for Christ.  "HATS" is an acronym for "Helping A Teen Succeed". We try to impact their lives for Christ before they hit their turbulent teens.  Some of these kids already live in turbulent homes.

Another HATS Club member receives a prize for a correct answer.

Not only do these kids meet a couple of times each month for dinner, for teaching and for games, but most of the kids also have individual mentors who meet with them one-on-one for an additional 3 or 4 hours a month.

More correct answers, more prizes.

I have been mentoring a ten-year-old boy since June of last year.  We’ve gone hiking, we’ve gone to movies and plays, we’ve gone swimming, and we’ve gone bowling.  This young mentee even helped me build a pergola in my back yard last summer after I showed him how to use a circular saw and a drill.

By the time the lesson ended, every kid got at least one
correct answer and a hat to prove it.

Tonight was a group event and I taught a lesson, asked questions as I taught, and I rewarded correct answers with a miniature St. Patrick’s Day hat.

 

At the end of the lesson, the kids learned that the shamrock represents the Trinity and my star pupil, who also happens to be my mentee, explained to the rest of the group what the Trinity means.

Also, I got a pretty sweet deal on those hats.  Twenty hats for only $4 at Macy's.  Or was it at the Dollar Tree?  Some store, anyway.